Buenos Aires -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Dozens of Roman Catholic bishops in South America say human trafficking has seen `` alarming growth '' in the region .

The 60 bishops from Argentina , Brazil , Paraguay and Uruguay issued a statement after a meeting in Argentina last week , calling the practice `` a shameful and outrageous reality '' and pledging to do more to fight it .

`` We warn of the existence of organized mafias that use smaller networks that are present in nearly all of our cities and towns , '' the statement said .

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Citing reports from global nonprofit groups , the bishops noted that child sex trafficking rings were also operating in the area .

The bishops pledged to raise awareness of the problem , push for legal reforms and assist victims -- noting that within the church there had been `` an absence of proposals dedicated to attracting young people -LRB- to the church -RRB- , and the absence of a more decisive and broad response to the problem -LRB- of human trafficking -RRB- . ''

Such an approach is not surprising , said Sergio Rubin , a journalist who has written extensively about the Catholic Church in Argentina .

`` The church is assuming its role , and they believe that they must work a lot more in the formation of religious values , '' Rubin said .

Mario Ganora , a lawyer who works with La Alameda , an Argentinian nonprofit that helps victims of human trafficking , said the increase in human trafficking was connected to an increase in drug consumption .

`` How ? ... The women who are used for sex trafficking are also used for the delivery of drugs , '' he said .

According to official data from Argentina 's Ministry of Justice and Human Rights , 176 people were rescued from human trafficking networks in Argentina in April , a higher number than the entire previous trimester .

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Catholic bishops warn of `` organized mafias '' that run trafficking networks

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They pledge to do more to fight human trafficking in South America

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Child sex trafficking rings are also operating in the area , the bishops say